UK to nominate Professor Akande as judge to the International Court of Justice

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

The United Kingdom National Group will nominate Professor Dapo Akande for election as a judge to the International Court of Justice, based in The Hague.

Akande of Yoruba origin will stand in for Brittain at the International Court of Justice in 2026.

Irohinoodua was informed that he will be the first African to be so nominated.

Making the announcement, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Joanna Roper CMG said
“The UK is pleased to announce that Professor Dapo Akande will be nominated for election as a judge to the International Court of Justice in 2026 by the UK National Group.

Irohinoodua was informed that Professor Akande is an outstanding international lawyer, who will bring deep legal expertise and experience to the ICJ. Professor Akande reflects the UK’s firm commitment to international justice, human rights and the international rule of law.”

HM Ambassador to the Netherlands represents the UK Government at International Organisations in the Netherlands, including the International Court of Justice.

Dapo Akande is a British-Nigerian academic and lawyer. Akande is the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC).[1] Akande was the first Black professor to be honoured with a portrait at St Peter’s College, Oxford.[2] Akande is a founding editor of EJIL:Talk!, the scholarly blog of the European Journal of International Law

Akande graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly the University of Ife) in 1992. In 1993, he qualified as a barrister and solicitor from the Nigerian Law School. Akande was awarded a Master of Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1994, and was awarded a Master of Arts (MA) by resolution from the University of Oxford in 2004.[7]